Flexible foot apparatuses and methods using the same

ABSTRACT

Flexible foot apparatuses and methods of using the same are disclosed. In one aspect a flexible foot apparatus is disclosed which can attach to and/or frictionally engage a standard crutch tip. The apparatus can include upper, lower, and intermediate body portions. The intermediate body portion can pivot during crutch assisted walking and can have a diameter smaller than diameters of the upper and lower body portions. The pivoting motion of crutch assisted walking can increase the amount of surface area available to engage a floor by pressing a bottom surface of the apparatus against the floor. Thus, stability at the crutch to floor interface can be improved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/329,310 filed on Apr. 29, 2010, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to flexiblefoot apparatuses and methods of using the same. More particularly, thepresent subject matter relates to flexible foot apparatuses and methodsof installing the same to provide greater stability for users of astandard crutch design.

BACKGROUND

In general, when recovering from a leg or foot injury, many patientsrequire crutches to assist them in walking. Currently, the standarddesign of traditional crutches includes a crutch shaft covered by asmall rubber tip that engages with the floor during crutch assistedwalking. The small rubber tip utilizes a small portion of its surfacearea at any one point during the pivot motion associated with crutchassisted walking. As such, the standard crutch design offers very littlestability and can lead to further injuries sustained to patients duringcrutch assisted walking.

Accordingly, there is a need for apparatuses and methods for improvingthe stability of crutch tips during crutch assisted walking. One objectof the present subject matter is to provide a flexible foot apparatusthat can attach to currently available standard crutch tips and canutilize a large slip-resistant flexible surface. The amount of surfacearea which grips the floor during crutch assisted walking can beincreased, thereby providing greater stability to the user. This andother objects of the present disclosure as can become apparent from thepresent disclosure are achieved, at least in whole or in part, by thesubject matter described herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with this disclosure, novel flexible foot apparatuses forattachment to a standard crutch tip and methods of using the same areprovided. It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure toprovide flexible foot apparatuses for attachment to a standard crutchtip which provide greater stability to users of conventional crutches.

This and other objects of the present disclosure as can become apparentfrom the present disclosure are achieved, at least in whole or in part,by the subject matter described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter includingthe best mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forthmore particularly in the remainder of the specification, includingreference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of a flexible footapparatus as described herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flexible foot apparatusas described herein;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the flexible foot apparatus asdescribed herein;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the flexible foot apparatus asdescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the presentsubject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in the figures.Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not as alimitation. In fact, features illustrated or described as part of oneembodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield still a furtherembodiment. It is intended that the present subject matter cover suchmodifications and variations.

As illustrated in the figures, some sizes of structures or portions areexaggerated relative to other structures or portions for illustrativepurposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures ofthe present subject matter. Furthermore, relative terms such as “upper,”“lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “on” or “above” are used herein to describeone structure's or portion's relationship to another structure orportion as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood thatrelative terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “on” or“above” are intended to encompass different orientations of theapparatus in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Forexample, if the apparatus in the figures is turned over, structure orportion described as “above” other structures or portions would now beoriented “below” the other structures or portions. Likewise, if theapparatus in the figures is rotated along an axis, stricture or portiondescribed as “above”, other structures or portions would now be oriented“next to” or “left of” the other structures or portions. Like numbersrefer to like elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top view of a flexible foot apparatus, generallydesignated 10 is illustrated. Flexible foot apparatus 10 can comprise anupper body portion 12 and a lower body portion 14. Flexible footapparatus 10 can be manufactured using any suitable technique and cancomprise any suitable flexible, resilient, and/or pliable material knownin the art including, for example, but not limited to polymer materials,elastomer materials, rubber materials, plastic materials, and/or anycombination thereof. Upper body portion 12 can comprise a first diameterD1 and a bored center 16. Bored center 16 can comprise an inner wall 18configured to engage with a standard crutch tip T as illustrated by FIG.2. Bored center 16 can elastically deform inwardly and outwardly asindicated by the arrows to accommodate and/or frictionally engage anobject having a larger diameter than that of inner wall 18, and such anobject can include, for example and without limitation, crutch tip Tillustrated by FIG. 2. Lower body portion 14 can comprise a seconddiameter D2 corresponding to an outer wall 36 of a lip portion 34 (FIG.2). Lower body portion 14 can comprise one or more openings 20 disposedthrough a top surface 22 of lower body portion 14. Openings 20 canextend through lower body portion 14 as described further below. Each offirst and second openings 20 can comprise an inner wall 24 and isconfigured to taper inwardly at least generally toward a center offlexible foot apparatus 10 and inwardly towards each other asillustrated by the phantom lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along second diameter D2 and line 2-2of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates an intermediate body portion 26 disposedbetween upper and lower body portions, 12 and 14 respectively.Intermediate body portion 26 can comprise a third diameter D3. In oneaspect, third diameter D3 can be less than each of first and seconddiameters, D1 and D2 respectively. Bored center 16 of upper body portion12 can extend downwardly from a top surface 28 of upper body portion 12and can terminate at a bottom floor 30 that extends into intermediatebody portion 26. Bored center 20 can be adapted to receive a standardsized crutch tip T which can be positioned therein as illustrated. Innerwall 18 of bored center 16 can be adapted to extend about crutch tip Tand frictionally engage tip T thereby securely holding tip T. Flexiblefoot apparatus can be installed over an existing crutch tip, forexample, by moving the crutch tip into the bored center of the upperbody portion, wherein the crutch tip engages with an inner wall of thebored center.

Openings 20 formed in top surface 22 of second body portion 14 canextend and be disposed entirely through second body portion 14 as shownin FIG. 2 for example and have an opening at top surface 22 and bottomsurface 32. Openings 20 allow air to be collected into and pushed outfrom a space, generally designated S, disposed between flexible footapparatus 10 and floor F when in use against floor F. Bottom surface 32can be biased in a concave orientation. In one aspect, bottom surface 23can include two portions: a first portion 33 disposed along a center ofbottom surface located between openings 20, and a second portion 35.Second portion 35 can include area outside of openings 20 adjacent lipportion 34. Openings 20 can taper inwardly such that inner walls 24taper at least generally inwardly towards each other and the center offoot apparatus 10. That is, openings 20 can taper inwardly from topsurface 22 to the concave biased bottom surface 32. Second body portion14 can further comprise lip portion 34 configured for engaging with awalking surface or floor F. As a user moves along floor F by pivotingabout the crutch tip T, lip portion 34 can fully engage floor F andbottom surface 32 can flex downwardly and upwardly as indicated by thearrow in space S to move between a first substantially concave positionand a second, less concave and more flat position with respect to floorF as shown for example by one of the two broken lines just above floor Fin FIG. 2. It can extend even to an at least substantially flat positionwhere at least a portion of bottom surface 32 can be at leastsubstantially flat against floor F. For example, either first or secondportions 33, 35 respectively may be flat or entire bottom surface 32consisting of both first and second portions 33 and 35 may besubstantially flat against floor F. As a user pushes his or her weightonto crutch top T during the pivoting motion of crutch assisted walking,bottom surface 32 can upwardly and downwardly move or press againstfloor F such that a portion of bottom surface 32 engages floor F.

As noted above, during the pivoting motion associated with crutchassisted walking, first and/or second portions 33 and 35 of bottomsurface 32 can engage floor F. In one aspect, the entire bottom surface32 including first and second portions 33 and 35, respectively cancontact floor F thereby assuming a substantially flat position againstfloor F. For example, first and second portions 33 and 35 of bottomsurface 32 can assume a substantially flat position P1 indicated by thedotted line along floor F. Thus, entire bottom surface 32 can engagefloor F. In other aspects, pivoting motion can cause second portion 35to assume a substantially flat position thereby engaging floor F andfirst portion 33 can maintain a position above the floor with a curvedorientation with respect to floor F. That is, second portion 35 cancomprise a substantially flat position P1 and first portion 33 cancomprise a substantially concave or curved position P2 curved abovefloor F. In further aspects, pivoting motion can cause first portion 33to engage floor, thus, first portion 33 can assume a substantially flatposition P1 against floor F and second portion 35 may maintain a concaveor curved position P3 above the floor F with a curved orientation. Whenbottom surface 32 presses against floor F, the amount of surface areaavailable to grip floor F can be increased thereby theapparatus-to-floor interface can be stabilized and/or strengthened. Thiscan be advantageous as the amount of surface area of flexible footapparatus 10 available to engage floor F can be maximized. In oneaspect, flexible foot apparatus 10 can comprise a material such thatbottom surface 32 is adapted to be both flexible and slip-proof therebyproviding stable and slip-resistant crutch assisted walking. Injuriesassociated with crutch tip T sliding or slipping along floor F cantherefore be minimized or eliminated. This, in turn, provides greaterstability to persons using crutches to assist them in walking. As theuser lifts the crutch tip T to position to a further position alongfloor F during crutch assisted walking, bottom surface 32 can moveupwardly assuming the substantially concave position until the userpivots about tip T thereby pushing bottom surface 32 against floor F.Bottom surface 32 can flex between the substantially flat andsubstantially concave position during the pivoting motion associatedwith crutch assisted walking.

Still referring to FIG. 2, lip portion 34 can comprise an outer wall 36having a diameter D2 of a greater length L than a diameter of the topsurface 22. Lip portion 34 can substantially surround bottom surface 32,for example, forming a rim or ring about bottom surface 32. Lip portion34 can comprise a lower surface 38 extending along diameter D2 and canfurther comprise a thickness T and width W. The entire width W canremain substantially engaged with floor F when the bottom surface 32 isin either the substantially concave or essentially flat position. Thatis, width W can remain engaged with the floor F during the entirepivoting movement of crutch assisted walking. Lower body portion 14 canfurther comprise an outer wall 40 disposed between top surface 22 andlower surface 38. The outer wall can curve inwardly to form a concave orU-shape from top surface 22 to lower surface 38 of lip portion 34. Whenbottom surface 32 is in the concave position, first and second openings20 can assume the inwardly tapered orientation along concave bottomsurface 32 and face inwardly towards each other and bored center 16.When bottom surface 32 is in the substantially flat position, first andsecond openings 20 can assume a substantially vertically longitudinallyaligned vertically aligned between top surface 22 and bottom surface 32.That is, bottom surface 32 can flex to stretch and align over floor Fwhen pressed during the pivoting motion, and openings 20 can move fromthe tapered orientation to a longitudinal orientation. Openings 20 canallow air to be collected into and pushed out space S disposed betweenflexible foot apparatus 10 and floor F. The pivoting motion can create asuction force using air collected in space S which can furthercontribute to stable, slip-resistant crutch assisted walking.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of flexible foot apparatus 10. Flexiblefoot apparatus 10 can be attached and installed to a standard crutch tipT and can pivot in a pivoting motion as indicated by the arrow A.Pivoting can also cause intermediate body portion 26 to pivot asindicated by the arrow A. Pivoting can cause bottom surface 32 to movebetween substantially flat and curved positions with respect to thefloor. During pivoting, air can be collected and expelled from space Svia openings 20 as earlier described. Crutch tip T can be positionedwithin bored center 2 and can frictionally engage bored center 16 ofupper body portion 12 such that it can be firmly held by inner wall 18.Inner wall 18 can substantially surround and engage at least a portionor all of crutch tip T. During the pivoting movement A associated withcrutch assisted walking, lower surface 38 of lip portion 34 can remainfully engaged with the floor. The pivoting movement A can induce aportion of bottom surface 32 to substantially engage the floor, therebymaximizing the amount of surface area available to grasp and/or contactthe floor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of flexible foot apparatus 10. Flexiblefoot apparatus can comprise a substantially circular shaped bottomsurface or footprint. However, any shape is contemplated and flexiblefoot is not limited to a circular shaped bottom surface. Bottom surface32 can be biased in a substantially concave shape and can besubstantially surrounded by lip portion 34. FIG. 4 also illustratesfirst portion 33 of bottom surface 32 which is disposed between openings20. Second portion 35 of bottom surface can be disposed outside openings20 adjacent lip portion 34. The pivoting motion associated with crutchassisted walking can increase an amount of surface area contacting afloor by pressing first and/or second portions 33, 35 of bottom surfaceagainst the floor. Air can be collected in space S and pushed out fromspace S via openings 20 during crutch assisted walking.

Embodiments of the present disclosure shown in the drawings anddescribed above are exemplary of numerous embodiments that can be madewithin the scope of the present subject matter. It is contemplated thatthe configurations of a flexible foot apparatus can comprise numerousconfigurations other than those specifically disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible foot apparatus for engaging with acrutch tip, the apparatus comprising: an upper body portion comprising afirst diameter and a bored center; a lower body portion having a seconddiameter; and an intermediate body portion disposed between the upperand lower body portions, and the intermediate body portion having athird diameter, wherein the third diameter is less than both the firstand the second diameters.
 2. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1,wherein the lower body portion further comprises a bottom surfaceconfigured to move between a first position where it is substantiallyconcave and a second position where it is substantially flat withrespect to a walking surface.
 3. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1,wherein the flexible foot comprises an elastomeric material.
 4. Theflexible foot apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower body portionfurther comprises a curved outer wall.
 5. The flexible foot apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the outer wall curves inwardly.
 6. The flexible footapparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower body portion further comprisesone or more openings extending there through connecting a top surface ofthe lower body portion to the bottom surface.
 7. The flexible foot ofclaim 1, wherein the bored center of the upper body portion comprises abottom floor which extends into the intermediate body portion.
 8. Aflexible foot apparatus comprising: an upper body portion comprising abored center configured for engaging with a crutch tip; a lower bodyportion having a second diameter and a lip portion disposed about aconcave bottom surface; and an intermediate body portion disposedbetween the upper and lower body portions, and the intermediate bodyportion having a third diameter less than the second diameter.
 9. Theflexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the upper body comprises afirst diameter that is greater than the third diameter.
 10. The flexiblefoot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the intermediate body is flexible andpivots during crutch assisted walking.
 11. The flexible foot apparatusof claim 8, wherein the bored center of the upper body portion comprisesa bottom floor which extends into the intermediate body portion.
 12. Theflexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the flexible foot comprisesan elastomeric material.
 13. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8,wherein the bottom surface is configured to move between a firstposition where it is substantially concave and a second position whereit is substantially flat with respect to a walking surface.
 14. Theflexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface is biasedin a concave orientation.
 15. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 14,wherein the lower body portion further comprises one or more openingsextending there through connecting a top surface of the lower bodyportion to the bottom surface.
 16. The flexible foot apparatus of claim8, wherein the lip portion comprises a lower surface configured toremain in contact with a floor during crutch assisted walking.
 17. Theflexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lip portion comprises alarger diameter than an upper surface of the lower body portion.
 18. Amethod of using a flexible foot apparatus, comprising: providing aflexible foot apparatus comprising: an upper body portion having a firstdiameter and a bored center; a lower body portion having a seconddiameter and a bottom surface; and an intermediate body portion disposedbetween the upper and lower body portions, and the intermediate bodyportion having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is less thanboth the first and the second diameters; installing the flexible footapparatus to a crutch tip; and pivoting the crutch tip with flexiblefoot apparatus thereon along a floor, wherein the bottom surface isconfigured to move between a first position where it is substantiallyconcave and a second position where it is substantially flat withrespect to a walking surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereininstalling the flexible foot apparatus over the crutch tip comprisesmoving the crutch tip into the bored center of the upper body portion,wherein the crutch tip engages with an inner wall of the bored center.20. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the crutch tip with flexiblefoot apparatus comprises pressing the bottom surface with a lip againstthe floor.